Jimmy Nathan Yancey's Obituary
Jimmy N Yancey passed away October 30, 2023. Jimmy was born September 17, 1930. Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Linnie Allen and Charles Watson Yancey. He was married to Lanette Yancey for 65 years who preceded him in death.
He grew up around Arkansas church-going families who fervently believed a person's word was sacred, all liars were going to hell, and a lazy person was just about the sorriest creature on earth.
Dad’s mother had always wanted him to play an instrument and brought home a saxophone and later a violin for him to try out, but it was his band Director in Hope Arkansas, Mr. Cannon, that told him he should play the tuba that actually started his musical career. In college, he started as an engineering major but decided he liked Music better and change his major.
He always liked telling the story of how he met Lanette Smith from little Louann, Arkansas in college. He said he saw her playing piano in a practice room and thought “a good piano player with a nice figure” – and the rest was history. Lanette was an outstanding piano player in her own right - and piano teacher for over 45 years. They married May 28, 1952, and were married 65 years before Mom’s passing.
It was in the military playing in the Air Force command band that he met music teachers from all over the country where his future was truly shaped.
He proudly served four years in the Air Force as a member of the Air Force command band in the 1950s. He graduated from Henderson College in Arkadelphia Arkansas, 1952 with a bachelors degree in music education. He later received his masters of education from UNT. Dad‘s greatest legacy was his 45 years of directing bands in Texas. He directed bands from the gulf coast to northeast Texas where he spent the majority of his career. In this area, he directed Pine Tree junior high, as well as Foster junior high, Longview freshman band, and the Longview high school band. He ended his career in Brownsboro Texas, where he took a fourth-division band and within two years turned them into a sweepstakes winning organization. Dad taught and expected excellence. He will long be remembered for his lasting legacy on Texas band programs, band directors-both past and current, students, and colleagues. Even after retiring, he still helped with teaching sectionals in area schools. In the 1990s he was awarded the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Texas band masters Hall of Fame. In his later years it was a common sight to catch a glimpse of Dad as he escorted and cared for Mom in her failing health with his dog Mitzi on a leash walking all over town.
Jimmy Yancey is preceded in death by his son Mike and his wife Lanette of 65 years. He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Tim and Malia Yancey, Chris and Alisa Yancey, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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